Burning The Ground Exclusive
Waterfront was a British pop duo made up of singer Phil Cilia and guitarist Chris Duffy. In 1988, the pair struck gold with their soulful debut single “Cry,” a heartfelt ballad that blended sophisticated pop with blue-eyed soul and a touch of adult contemporary polish. Released from their self-titled debut album, the song became an international hit and remains one of the most memorable one-hit wonders of the late 1980s.
Built around a smooth groove, emotional vocals, and a soaring chorus, “Cry” resonated strongly with radio audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. In the United States, the single climbed all the way to #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it Waterfront’s only American chart hit. The song also found success in their home country, reaching #17 on the UK Singles Chart.
What made “Cry” stand out in 1989 was its understated sophistication. While much of pop radio at the time leaned heavily toward flashy production and bombastic hooks, Waterfront delivered something more mature and emotionally grounded. Phil Cilia’s expressive vocal performance gave the song a sincerity that connected immediately with listeners, while Chris Duffy’s tasteful instrumentation added warmth and texture.
The success of “Cry” helped Waterfront gain considerable exposure during the late 1980s, especially in the United States where MTV and adult contemporary radio embraced the single. The duo followed up with additional releases, but none managed to recreate the crossover success of their debut hit.
Listening today, “Cry” still sounds timeless. Its blend of soulful melodies and polished production captures the best elements of sophisticated late-80s pop. For many fans, the track remains a hidden gem of the era, one of those songs that instantly transports you back to a specific moment in time.
Whether you remember hearing it on late-night radio, catching the video on MTV, or discovering it years later, “Cry” remains a beautifully crafted pop song that deserved every bit of its chart success.
SIDE A:
Cry (Extended Version) 7:05
Remix – Bruce Forest
Cry (7″ Version) 3:51
SIDE B:
Cry (Club Mix) 6:32
Edited By – Roger Pauletta
Engineer [Remix] – P. Dennis Mitchell
Keyboards [Additional Programming] – Merv De Teyer
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Gail “Sky” King
Cry (Dub) 4:54
Edited By – Roger Pauletta
Engineer [Remix] – P. Dennis Mitchell
Keyboards [Additional Programming] – Merv De Teyer
Remix, Producer [Additional Production] – Gail “Sky” King
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint
| Chart Performance – Waterfront: Cry (1989) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 7 |
| Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | 61 |
| Italy Airplay (Music & Media) | 18 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) | 30 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 17 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 10 |
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) | 2 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Polydor – 889 251-1
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM, Single
Country: US
Released: 1989
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Synth-pop
CREDITS:
- Music By – Cilia*
- Producer – Glenn Skinner
- Written-By, Music By – Chris Duffy
NOTES:
From the Polydor album 422 837 970-1 “WATERFRONT”
Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS
VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND
THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner
SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
PLEASE READ
There are two 24-Bit links; if one does not work, try the other
**24-bit FLAC Only Available For SIX Days!
Password: burningtheground
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